Preparing for the future with AI

Businesses are being warned that it is no longer possible to survive and grow without engaging with the digital and AI revolution.

As artificial intelligence accelerates changes in productivity, competitiveness and cyber risk, the message from experts is simple – those that fail to act risk being left behind.

They told the summit that while adoption levels vary, the direction of travel is unavoidable.

Detective inspector Dan Giannasi from the North West Cyber Resilience Centre made the reality clear for organisations of all sizes.

He said: “You can’t operate as a business without being online in a digital world.”

From a competitiveness perspective, Dan Knowles, founder of innovation agency Northern Reach, said AI was already creating a clear divide.

He said: “The reality is that AI is driving a competitive advantage for businesses.

"It’s making good people really, really good, but it’s highlighting where people are falling behind.

“AI is a key skill in business now. We’re in this massive transition period where you have to be taking the journey.”

Education providers told the gathering that one of their key roles is to ensure that skills keep pace with the shift being seen in the workplace.

Darren Ratcliffe of Blackburn College said that preparing people for an AI enabled workplace was now essential.

He added: “We’re looking to build the next generation of workforce that are AI aware and have all the skills, including the cyber skills, to be able to meet what the marketis looking for.”

He also explained that AI was being used to transform how organisations operate,
including his own college.

Blackburn College has invested more than £4m in cyber and digital infrastructure and works closely with the Ministry of Defence and National Cyber Force to ensure
courses align with ‘real world demand’.

Tamima Mulla-Shah, from skills specialist IN4 Group, said many businesses implement technology without fully understanding how to embed it.

She said: “A lot of businesses may adopt tools, but they don’t necessarily have the in house capability to roll that out.”

And she stressed that leadership plays a decisive role. “A lot rests on decision making, and that culture comes from the leadership team. We work with senior leaders to find the needs for the organisation and make them the ones that drive that culture.”

Cyber risk remains a growing concern, particularly for SMEs. DI Giannasi warned
that criminals are using the same AI tools as businesses.

He told the summit that the size of a business was irrelevant to the crooks. He added: “The reality is the criminals don’t care and are just targeting who they can, even a small business is a good target for them.”

And he stressed that preparation against a cyber-attack was critical. He told the audience: “Security is everybody’s responsibility.”

Darren Ratcliffe said that even in a world where AI is becoming increasingly relevant, he believed employability was now depended on more than technical skills alone.

He said: “It’s one thing training somebody technically, but it’s another thing having them ready to interact in the workplace.”